Underwater sound source

ABSTRACT

1. A buoy for use as an underwater sound source, comprising in combination: AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL CASING, A CIRCULAR PLATE RIGIDLY FIXED AT ONE END OF SAID CASING, A PRESSURE PLATE DISPOSED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CASING, CHARGE MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID PRESSURE PLATE MEANS WITHIN SAID CASING, INFLATABLE BAG MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CIRCULAR PLATE AND SAID CHARGE MEANS, MEANS FOR INFLATING SAID BAG MEANS TO EJECT SAID CHARGE MEANS FROM SAID CASING WHEN SAID PRESSURE PLATE IS RELEASED FROM SAID CASING, DOME MEANS, CLAMP MEANS SECURED TO SAID DOME MEANS AND EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF SAID CASING RELEASABLY SECURING SAID PRESSURE PLATE AT SAID OTHER END OF SAID CASING, ROTOCHUTE MEANS SECURED TO SAID DOME MEANS FOR RETARDING THE BUOY AS IT FALLS THROUGH THE AIR, SAID DOME MEANS INCLUDING SPRING MEANS BIASED BETWEEN SAID DOME MEANS AND SAID CIRCULAR PLATE FOR EJECTING SAID DOME MEANS AND SAID CLAMP MEANS FROM SAID CASING WHEN SAID CLAMP MEANS RELEASE SAID PRESSURE PLATE, RELEASE MEANS RELEASING SAID CLAMP MEANS FROM SAID PRESSURE PLATE IN RESPONSE TO A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE ON SAID PRESSURE PLATE.

Sates Somerville et a1.

[541 UNDERWATER SOUND SOURCE [75] Inventors: James Somervllle, Chalfont;Donald F. Smith; Joseph N. Yaccarino, both of Norristown, all of Pa.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as 1 represented by theSecretary of the Navy 22 2 Filed: Apr. 27, 1962 2'11 Appl. No.: 190,836

[52] US. Cl ..102/7, 102/10, 340/5 R [51] Int. Cl. F42b 22/44 [58] Fieldoi Search ........181/.53; 340/2, 3, 5; 102/4,

[56] 1 Reierences Cited Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attorney-Q.Baxter Warner and Henry Hansen [451 Apr. 3, 1973 EXEMPLARY CLAIM 1. Abuoy for use as an underwater sound source, comprising in combination:

an elongated cylindrical casing,

a circular plate rigidly fixed at one end of said casa pressure platedisposed at the other end of said casing,

charge means disposed adjacent said pressure plate means within saidcasing,

inflatable bag means disposed between said circular plate and saidcharge means,

means for inflating said bag means to eject said charge means from saidcasing when said pressure plate is released from said casing,

dome means,

clamp means secured to said dome means and extending the length of saidcasing releasably securing said pressure plate at said other end of saidcasing, v

rotochute means secured to said dome means for retarding the buoy as itfalls through the air,

said dome means including spring means biased between said dome meansand said circular plate for ejecting said dome means and said clamp'means from said casing when said clamp means release said pressureplate, release means releasing said clamp means from said pressure platein response to a predetermined pressure on said pressure plate.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures is 1111111111111 s PNEP-JTEDf-HB I975 SHEET1 [1F 2 INVENTORS JAMES SOMERVILLE GENT DONALD F. SMITH JOSEPH N.YACCARINO PATENTEDAPR 3 19m SHEET 2 [IF 2 XMITTER RECEIVER fl k SWITCHSTEPPING I N VENTORS JAMES SOMERVILLE DONALD F. SMITH JOSEPH N.YACCARINO UNDERWATER SOUND SOURCE The invention described herein may bemanufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States ofAmerica for governmental purposes without the payment of any royaltiesthereon or therefor. v

In the field of anti-submarine warfare one of the chief ways of locatingtarget submarines is by the use of sound emanating devices such asexploding charges in conjunction with underwater acoustical pulsereceivers such as sonobuoys. A sonobuoy functions chiefly as a sound oracoustical pulse pickup device which converts the acoustical pulse to anelectrical signal for'transmission to the search craft. When two ofthese sonobuoys are deployed in the water, explosive charges are droppedand detonated in the water .near the sonobuoys at various intervals and'by comparison of the times between receipt of the acoustical pulses andreceipt of the acoustical pulse echoes from a target submarine thetarget submarine can be accurately located and tracked.

Using a present day technique an aircraft on an antisubmarine warfaremission normally must bomb a sonobuoy, that is, drop a charge near thesonobuoy. Once the position of the submarine is located, the targetsubmarine in normal operation changes its position so thatananti-submarine warfare aircraft must'continually bomb the sonouboy orother subsequently dropped sonobuoys to precisely track the submarine inorder to pinpoint its position for an effective attack. This necessityto bomb and rebomb a sonobuoy requires the airplane to come back and flyover the sonobuoy to drop a charge every so often. This significantlyretards progress of the aircraft toward the submarine. In other words,if the aircraft is closing in on the submarine, it is very desirable forthe aircraft not to have to interrupt its course and go back to thesonobuoy and drop another charge to find the next position of thesubmarine.

A device is disclosed in the present invention whereby an anti-submarineaircraft engaged in a submarine hunt may, after it has released itssonobuoys at prescribed locations, release one device containing aplurality of charges which can be set off at various intervals of timeby radio signals from a transmitter in the anti-submarine warfareaircraft. Thus, an anti-submarine warfare aircraft using the presentinvention may without interruption continue its progress toward an enemysubmarine while at the same time detonating individually a plurality ofcharges contained in the device of the present invention. Therefore, thesearch aircraft may continuously find the new position of the enemysubmarine whether the submarine is on a straight course or on a coursedesigned to escape from the aircraft by detonating one charge at a timewhile it progresses toward the submarine.

The present invention contemplates a charge carrying buoy capable ofbeing dropped from an aircraft at a high altitude into the sea at whichtime it is automatically made ready for immediate use. The inventionemploys an elongated cylindrical casing designed to carry a plurality ofcharges which on entering the water string out at such a length from oneanother that the explosion of one will not affect or detonate the other.The buoy of the present invention on making contact with waterautomatically ejects a retardation device which was used to slow itsdescent through the air and at the same time causes a flotation deviceto be inflated and float the buoy. Also on making contact with the watera radio receiver is activated to receive coded radio pulses from theanti-submarine aircraft which permits the pilot sequentially to fireeach of the charges.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a buoycapable of being dropped from an aircraft into water which on impactwith the water automatically dispenses a string of charges, activates aradio signal receiver, inflates a flotation chamber and otherwiseprepares the buoy to float in the water supporting a string of chargeswhich may be individually exploded by a pilot on radio command from theaircraft.

A further object of the present invention is to provide. an underwatersound source for use with sonobuoys by an aircraft on a search and trackmission of an enemy submarine wherein the aircraft may continuallyprogress toward the target while the pilot fires the charges in asubmarine tracking situation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description.

FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

'FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts the buoy of the present invention in its operationalenvironment; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the electrical charge detonating arrangement of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a buoy 10 comprising an elongatedcylindrical tubular casing 11. FIG. 1 illustrates the arrangement of theinternal elements within the casing 11 in a loaded condition, that is,in the condition before the buoy is dropped into the water. A circularbase plate 12 is secured within the casing 11 at one end thereof.Integral .with plate 12 is a projection 13 having a slightly smallerdiameter than that of plate 12 about which is looped the end ring ofspring 14. The end of spring 14 fits into a boss (not shown) of plate 12to prevent slippage thereof. The other end of spring 14 is securedlyfastened toone side of inflatable bag 15.

Inflatable bag 15 comprises an elongated cylinder of rubberized cloth.Disks 15a and 15b which are bonded at each'end to the inflatable bag 15form an airtight chamber therewith. It is to disk 15a that the end ofspring 14 is fastened as by a metal strap or some other convenientmeans.

Antenna wire 17 from radio receiver casing 18 which connects. to antenna19 passes through inflatable bag 15 through holes in disks 15b and 15a.Airtight grommets 21 and 22 which pass through the wall of the disks 15band 15a, respectively, provide an airtight connection and on inflationof bag 15 prevent the gas from escaping. In order to allow for theexpansion of bag 15 when it is inflated antenna wire 17 within the bag15 between grommets 21 and 22 is provided with a length to allow forexpansion of inflatable bag 15 when it is inflated.

Antenna 19 is mounted at one end of plate 12 in any convenient manner ina folded condition such that on contact with the 'water its length isincreased at least by a factor of two. Qne method of accomplishing thiswould be to hold antenna 19 in a folded condition by a strap of highlywater soluble paper.

A conventional radio receiver is contained within receiver casing 18.Integral with radio receiver casing 18 is a wire stowage form 23.Secured to one end of radio casing 18 as by a metal strap 24 is a Cchamber 25. Disposed within CO chamber 25 and as seen by virtue of thebroken away portion thereof is a CO, bottle 26 operative upon beingpunctured to inflate inflatable bag via valve arrangement 27.

A lanyard 28 is securedly fastened to the inside of casing 11 as by aneyebolt 30 to which the end of the lanyard 28 is securedly tied. Theother end of lanyard 28 is secured to actuating lever 31. Thus, at themoment that inflatable bag 15 is shoved to the right by the expansion ofspring 14, actuating lever 31 is pulled up and punctures the CO bottlewithin CO chamber 25 and bag 15 is inflated.

Wound in several layers around wire stowage form 23 is wire 32 which isthe output wire cable from the radio receiver of radio receiver casing18. A charge container which consists of nose portion 34 and bag portion36 has disposed therein a plurality of charges 37 through 41. Each oneof these charges is connected to wire cable 32 through which each chargehas an individual electrical connection to the radio receiverschematically shown in FIG. 4 through a stepping switch 33.interconnecting lengths of wire may be stored in any convenient mannerbetween the individual charges, as for example in a loop spiral, as at43 through 47. Each charge is provided with a squib charge of aconventional type such that each charge may be exploded individually onbeing connected to a source of voltage by a stepping switch 33 inresponse to a particular type of transmitted radio signal. Aconventional stepping switch 33 is disposed in circular space 44 withinwire stowage means 23. Obviously wire cable 32 must be physically ruggedand have a rugged connection to radio receiver casing 18 to support thecharges when the buoy is in the water.

A dome 46 having a lip portion 47 fits over the outside of casing 11.Straps 48, 49 and 51 as best seen in FIG. 3, which are securedlyfastened to dome portion 46 as by rivets and extend along the outsidelength of casing 11 and are secured at the opposite end portion thereofin a manner to be more fully discussed hereinbelow. Straps or clamps 48,49 and 51 have rivet like projections 48a, 49a and 51a which fit throughholes 48b, 49b and 51b through lip portion 47 and the part of the casing11 over which lip portion 47 fits. During assembly of the buoy thespring 14 is held in the loaded position of FIG. 1 and the projections48a, 49a and 51 are caused to go through holes 48b, 49b and 51b to holdthe dome 46 in place along with the other connection of clamps 48, 49and 51 at the other end of casing 11 to be more fully discussedhereinbelow.

As best seen in FIG. 1 dome portion has disposed therein a plate 52against which one end of each of springs 53 and 54 abut. Springs 53 and54 abut also against plate portion 12 such that, when the clamps 48, 49and 51 are released, springs 53 and 54 cause dome 46 to be ejected fromthe rest of the buoy.

A circular plate 56 is disposed within casing 1 1. Each of clamps 48, 49and 51 have wedge-like portions 57, 58 and 59 which are shown in FIG. 2.At the ends of wedge-like portion 57 are pin-like portions 570, 58a and590. A pressure plate 61 has disposed between it and plate 56 a circularannular foam rubber disk 62.

Pressure plate 61 has end portions 63 as shown in FIG. 1 which arelooped over pin-like portions 57a, 58a and 59a. The wedge-like portionsof each of the clamps 48, 49 and 51 fit through slots 64 in casing 11and abut against the casing wall at 65 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, when apredetermined pressure or impact is applied to pressure plate 61, theloop portions 63 of pressure plate 61 are caused to disengage from pinportions 57a, 58a, and 59a of wedges 57, 58, 59, thus allowing clamps48, 59, 51 to spring outwardly and away from buoy casing 11. When thisoccurs projections 48a, 49a, and 51a withdraw from holes of 48b, 49b,and 51b, and by virtue of the spring-like action of depressed springs 53and 54 dome portion 46 is ejected.

Dome portion 46 may be equipped with rotochute assembly 66 which iscaused to extend and rotate with respect to the buoy by the force of thewind resistance as the buoy falls through the air on being dropped fromthe aircraft. Such an action stabilized and decelerates the descent ofthe buoy as it falls through the air. The particular configuration ofthe rotochute assembly forms no part of this invention and is describedonly briefly.

The rotochute assembly consists of four blades 662, 66b, 66c, and 66dwhich are spring biased in a folded condition to extend along theoutside of casing 11 by springs not shown. A bolt and nut assembly 60 isused to secure rotochute assembly 66 to dome 46 such that the blades arerotatable with respect to the buoy 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown the buoy 10 seconds before andafter it has made contact with the water after being dropped from anaircraft.

The upper portion of FIG. 3 depicts in phantom the buoy 10 in a fallingcondition with the blades of the rotochute assembly 66 extended whichstabilizes the buoy and retards its descent. The lower portion of FIG. 3depicts the buoy in its operative condition.

After the buoy 10 enters the water clamps 48, 49 and 51 are released andare ejected along with dome 46 by the action of springs 53 and 54 asabove described when pressure plate 61 is depressed. When this occursspring 14 expands and pushes plates 56 and 61 from the bottom of thebuoy 10. By this same spring action lanyard 28 causes actuating lever 31to puncture CO bottle 26 and bag 15 is inflated. Inflation of bag 15floats the buoy 10 as well as aids in pushing the charge container 36from the casing 1 1. By virtue of weight 42 and the cone-shapedcontainer 36 the charges 37 through 41 string out as shown and container36 which may be weighted drops away.

Referring now to-FIG. 4 there is shown in block and schematic form theelectrical detonating arrangement of the present invention.

Reference numberal 71 indicates a radio signal transmitter ofconventional design which is carried in the aircraft. Receiver 72 hasits output connected to stepping switch 33 which as a separateconnection to each of charges 37 through 41. Thus, on receipt of asignal of a particular frequency or band width as selected by theoperator from transmitter 71 by receiver 72 stepping switch 33 connectsa predetermined charge to detonating source of potential B which mayalso be the battery of receiver 72.

Different types of stepping switches may be used, i.e., a steppingswitch which is actuated by coded radio pulses or modulated signals.Receiver 72 may be connected to its activating source of potential by aswitch arrangement which is operated by actuating lever 31 and spring 14at the same time bag 15 is inflated.

Obviously many modifications of the present inven tion may be resortedto without departing from the spirit of this invention wherein thedescription of the specific details of construction is not to beconstrued as limiting the invention solely thereto.

What is claimed is: g i 1. A buoy for use as an underwater sound source,comprising in combination:

an elongated cylindrical casing, a circular plate rigidly fixed at oneend of said casing, a pressure plate disposed at the other end of saidcasing, charge means disposed adjacent said pressure plate means withinsaid casing, inflatable bag means disposed between said circular plateand said charge means, means .for inflating said bag means to eject saidcharge means from said casing when said pressure 1 plate is releasedfrom said casing, dome means, clamp means secured to said dome means andextending the length of said casing releasably securing saidpressureplate at said other end of said casing, rotochute means securedto said dome means for retarding the buoy as it falls through the air,said dome means including spring means biased between said dome meansand said circular plate for ejecting said dome means and said clampmeans from said casing when said clamp means release said pressureplate, release means releasing said clamp means from said pressure platein response to a predetermined pressure on said pressure plate. 2. Abuoy for use as an underwater sound source, comprising in combination:

an elongated cylindrical casing, a first circular plate rigidly fixed atone end of said casing, a second circular plate slidably disposed at theother end of said casing, a pressure plate disposed at said other end ofsaid casing, a deformable annular disk disposed between said secondplate and said pressure plate, inflatable bag means, spring meansdisposed in a loaded condition between said first circular plate andsaid inflatable bag means, valve assembly means, 1 said valve assemblymeans including a bottle of compressed gas, valve stem means connectingsaid valve assembly means to said inflatable bag, actuating lever meansoperative to puncture said bottle of compressed gas and to inflate saidinflatable bag means through said valve stem means when said spring isunloaded, charge container means, a plurality of charges disposed insaid charge container means,

detonating means connected to said plurality of charges for detonatingselected ones of said charges, dome means at said one end of saidcasing, clamp means extending the length of said casing and securingsaid dome means and said pressure plate at respective ends of saidcasing maintaining said spring in a loaded condition, said dome meansincluding second spring means in a loaded condition disposed betweensaid first plate means and said dome means, whereby said dome means isejected fro-m said casing with said first spring means assuming anunloaded condition when said clamp means disengages said pressure means.3. A buoy for use as an underwater sound source, comprising incombination:

an elongated cylindrical casing, i 1 a first circular plate rigidlyfixed at one end of said casing, a second circular plate slidablydisposed at the other end of said casing, a pressure plate, releasablysecured to said other end of said casing, a deformable annular diskdisposed between said second plate and said pressure plate, inflatablebag means, first spring means disposed in a loaded condition betweensaid first circular plate and'said inflatable bag means, radio receivermeans, valve assembly means secured to said radio receiver means, saidvalve assembly means including a bottle of compressed gas, valve stemmeans connecting said valve assembly means to said inflatable bag,actuating lever means operative to puncture said bottle of compressedgas when said spring is unloaded and to inflate said inflatable bagmeans through said valve stem means when said first spring means isunloaded, charge container means, i a plurality of charges disposed insaid charge container means, cable meansconnected between said radioreceiver means and each of said charges and interconnecting each of saidcharges at predetermined lengths, stepping switch means connected insaid cable means for electrically connecting individual ones of saidcharges to -a source of power at a predetermined signal from said radioreceiver means, release means connected to said pressure plate forreleasing said pressure plate from said other end of said casing tounload said spring means when said casing enters the water, whereby saidinflatable bag is inflated and said charges are strung out on said cablemeans at one end of said casing. 4. A buoy for use as an underwatersound source, comprising in combination:

an elongated cylindrical casing, a first circular plate rigidly fixed atone end of said casing, a second circular plate slidably disposed at theother end of said casing,

a pressure plate disposed at said other end of said casing,

a deformable annular disk disposed between said second plate and saidpressure plate,

inflatable bag means,

spring means disposed in a loaded condition between said first circularplate and said inflatable bag means,

radio receiver means,

valve assembly means secured to said radio receiver means,

said valve assembly means including a bottle of compressed gas,

valve stem means connecting said valve assembly means to said inflatablebag,

actuating lever means operative to puncture said bottle of compressedgas and to inflate said inflatable bag means through said valve stemmeans when said spring is unloaded,

cable stowage means integral with said radio receiver means,

, charge container means,

a plurality of charges disposed in said charge con tainer means,

cable means disposed on said cable stowage means and electricallyconnected between said radio receiver means and each of said charges,

stepping switch means connected in said cable means for electricallyconnecting individual ones of said charges to a source of power at apredetermined signal from said radio receiver means,

dome means at said one end of said casing,

clamp means extending the length of said casing and securing said domemeans and said pressure plate at respective ends of said casing formaintaining said first spring means in a loaded condition,

said dome means including second spring means-in a loaded conditiondisposed between said first plate means and said dome means,

whereby said dome means is ejected from said casing with said firstspring means assuming an unloaded condition when said clamp meansdisengages said pressure means.

5. A buoy for use as an underwater sound source,

comprising in combination:

an elongated cylindrical casing,

a first circular plate rigidly fixed at one end of said casing,

a second circular plate slidably disposed at the other end of saidcasing,

a pressure plate disposed at said other end of said casing,

a deformable annular disk of rubber disposed between said second plateand said pressure plate,

inflatable bag means,

first spring means disposed in a loaded condition between said firstcircular plate and said inflatable bag means,

radio receiver means,

valve assembly means secured to said radio receiver means,

said valve assembly means including a bottle of compressed gas, valvestem means connecting said valve assembly means to said inflatable bag,actuating lever means operative to puncture said bottle of compressedgas and to inflate said inflatable bag means through said valve stemmeans when said first spring means is unloaded,

charge container means,

a plurality of charges disposed in said charge container means,

cable means connected between said radio receiver means and each of saidcharges and interconnecting each of said charges at predeterminedlengths,

stepping switch means connected in said cable means for electricallyconnecting individual ones of said charges to a source of power at apredetermined signal from said radio receiver means,

dome means at said one end of said casing,

rotochute means secured to said dome means for retarding the buoy as itfalls through the air,

clamp means secured to said dome means extending the length of theoutside of said casing and releasably securing said pressure plate atsaid other end of said casing,

said dome means including second spring means biased between said domemeans and said first circular plate for ejecting said dome means andsaid clamp means from said casing means when said clamp means releasesaid pressure plate,

release means releasing said pressure plate from said clamp means inresponse to a predetermined pressure on said pressure plate means,

whereby said inflatable bag is inflated and said charges are dischargedto be strung out on said cable means at one end of said casing.

6. A buoy for use as an underwater sound source,

comprising in combination:

an elongated cylindrical casing,

plate means mounted in said casing at one end thereof,

rotochute means removably mounted on said one end of said casingadjacent to said plate means,

clamp means having straps secured at one end thereof to said rotochuteand releasably secured at the other end thereof to the other end of saidcasing,

first spring means positioned between said plate

1. A buoy for use as an underwater sound source, comprising incombination: an elongated cylindrical casing, a circular plate rigidlyfixed at one end of said casing, a pressure plate disposed at the otherend of said casing, charge means disposed adjacent said pressure platemeans within said casing, inflatable bag means disposed between saidcircular plate and said charge means, means for inflating said bag meansto eject said charge means from said casing when said pressure plate isreleased from said casing, dome means, clamp means secured to said domemeans and extending the length of said casing releasably securing saidpressure plate at said other end of said casing, rotochute means securedto said dome means for retarding the buoy as it falls through the air,said dome means including spring means biased between said dome meansand said circular plate for ejecting said dome means and said clampmeans from said casing when said clamp means release said pressureplate, release means releasing said clamp means from said pressure platein response to a predetermined pressure on said pressure plate.
 2. Abuoy for use as an underwater sound source, comprising in combination:an elongated cylindrical casing, a first circular plate rigidly fixed atone end of said casing, a second circular plate slidably disposed at theother end of said casing, a pressure plate disposed at said other end ofsaid casing, a deformable annular disk disposed between said secondplate and said pressure plate, inflatable bag means, spring meansdisposed in a loaded condition between said first circular plate andsaid inflatable bag means, valve assembly means, said valve assemblymeans including a bottle of compressed gas, valve stem means connectingsaid valve assembly means to said inflatable bag, actuating lever meansoperative to puncture said bottle of compressed gas and to inflate saidinflatable bag means through said valve stem means when said spring isunloaded, charge container means, a plurality of charges disposed insaid charge container means, detonating means connected to saidplurality of charges for detonating selected ones of said charges, domemeans at said one end of said casing, clamp means extending the lengthof said casing and securing said dome means and said pressure plate atrespective ends of said casing maintaining said spring in a loadedcondition, said dome means including second spring means in a loadedcondition disposed between said first plate means and said dome means,whereby said dome means is ejected from said casing with said firstspring means assuming an unloaded condition when said clamp meansdisengages said pressure means.
 3. A buoy for use as an underwater soundsource, comprising in combination: an elongated cylindrical casing, afirst circular plate rigidly fixed at one end of said casing, a secondcircular plate slidably disposed at the other end of said casing, apressure plate, releasably secured to said other end of said casing, adeformable annular disk disposed between said second plate and saidpressure plate, inflatable bag means, first spring means disposed in aloaded condition between said first circular plate and said inflatablebag means, radio receiver means, valve assembly means secured to saidradio receiver means, said valve assembly means including a bottle ofcompressed gas, valve stem means connecting said valve assembly means tosaid inflatable bag, actuating lever means operative to puncture saidbottle of compressed gas when said spring is unloaded and to inflatesaid inflatable bag means through said valve stem means when said firstspring means is unloaded, charge container means, a plurality of chargesdisposed in said charge container means, cable means connected betweensaid radio receiver means and each of said charges and interconnectingeach of said charges at predetermined lengths, stepping switch meansconnected in said cable means for electrically connecting individualones of said charges to a source of power at a predetermined signal fromsaid radio receiver means, release means connected to said pressureplate for releasing said pressure plate from said other end of saidcasing to unload said spring means when said casing enters the water,whereby said inflatable bag is inflated and said charges are strung outon said cable means at one end of said casing.
 4. A buoy for use as anunderwater sound source, comprising in combination: an elongatedcylindrical casing, a first circular plate rigidly fixed at one end ofsaid casing, a second circular plate slidably disposed at the other endof said casing, a pressure plate disposed at said other end of saidcasing, a deformable annular disk disposed between said second plate andsaid pressure plate, inflatable bag means, spring means disposed in aloaded condition between said first circular plate and said inflatablebag means, radio receiver means, valve assembly means secured to saidradio receiver means, said valve assembly means including a bottle ofcompressed gas, valve stem means connecting said valve assembly means tosaid inflatable bag, actuating lever means operative to puncture saidbottle of compressed gas and to inflate said inflatable bag meansthrough said valve stem means when said spring is unloaded, cablestowage means integral with said radio receiver means, charge containermeans, a plurality of charges disposed in said charge container means,cable means disposed on said cable stowage means and electricallyconnected between said radio receiver means and each of said charges,stepping switch means connected in said cable means for electricallyconnecting individual ones of said charges to a source of power at apredetermined signal from said radio receiver means, dome means at saidone end of said casing, clamp means extending the length of said casingand securing said dome means and said pressure plate at respective endsof said casing for maintaining said first spring means in a loadedcondition, said dome means including second spring means in a loadedcondition disposed between said first plate means and said dome means,whereby said dome means is ejected from said casing with said firstspring means assuming an unloaded condition when said clamp meansdisengages said pressure means.
 5. A buoy for use as an underwater soundsource, comprising in combination: an elongated cylindrical casing, afirst circular plate rigidly fixed at one end of said casing, a secondcircular plate slidably disposed at the other end of said casing, apressure plate disposed at said other end of said casing, a deformableannular disk of rubber disposed between said second plate and saidpressure plate, inflatable bag means, first spring means disposed in aloaded condition between said first circular plate and said inflatablebag means, radio receiver means, valve assembly means secured to saidradio receiver means, said valve assembly means including a bottle ofcompressed gas, valve stem means connecting said valve assembly means tosaid inflatable bag, actuating lever means operative to puncture saidbottle of compressed gas and to inflate said inflatable bag meansthrough said valve stem means when said first spring means is unloaded,charge container means, a plurality of charges disposed in saiD chargecontainer means, cable means connected between said radio receiver meansand each of said charges and interconnecting each of said charges atpredetermined lengths, stepping switch means connected in said cablemeans for electrically connecting individual ones of said charges to asource of power at a predetermined signal from said radio receivermeans, dome means at said one end of said casing, rotochute meanssecured to said dome means for retarding the buoy as it falls throughthe air, clamp means secured to said dome means extending the length ofthe outside of said casing and releasably securing said pressure plateat said other end of said casing, said dome means including secondspring means biased between said dome means and said first circularplate for ejecting said dome means and said clamp means from said casingmeans when said clamp means release said pressure plate, release meansreleasing said pressure plate from said clamp means in response to apredetermined pressure on said pressure plate means, whereby saidinflatable bag is inflated and said charges are discharged to be strungout on said cable means at one end of said casing.
 6. A buoy for use asan underwater sound source, comprising in combination: an elongatedcylindrical casing, plate means mounted in said casing at one endthereof, rotochute means removably mounted on said one end of saidcasing adjacent to said plate means, clamp means having straps securedat one end thereof to said rotochute and releasably secured at the otherend thereof to the other end of said casing, first spring meanspositioned between said plate means and said rotochute means for urgingseparation therebetween, charge means releasably inserted in said casingat the other end of said casing, second spring means positioned betweensaid plate means and said charge means for urging separationtherebetween, and pressure responsive means removably inserted in saidcasing at the other end thereof and operatively connected to said clampmeans for releasing said clamp means and unloading said first and secondspring means; whereby rotochute means and said charge means are ejectedfrom said casing means at a predetermined pressure.